Jonathan Tamari

Posted:
Tuesday, August 2, 2011, 4:44 PM

The Eagles have signed running back Ronnie Brown, a former Dolphin, to a one-year deal.

UPDATE: They also signed right tackle Ryan Harris, a former Bronco who started 10 games last season to a one-year deal. Harris was a right tackle in Denver who the Broncos expected to retain. (more below).

UPDATE: The Eagles also signed former Patriots safety Jarrad Page. Page, 26, had 12 tackles and two interceptions last year for the Patriots. He played in 10 games with one start. Before that he spent four years with the Chiefs, starting 39 games. He will compete to add depth to a position where the Eagles are very young.

Brown, a Pro Bowler in 2008, has six years of NFL experience and will provide a veteran presence behind LeSean McCoy.

Brown made a mark as a "Wildcat" back in Miami, something that will surely intrigue Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg, who tried several Wildcat plays last season, but with little success. Brown is also an able pass catcher -- he has had 32 or more receptions in all but one season --something else that is critical to any back in Philadelphia. UPDATE: Brown will get a $1 million base salary plus incentives.

“Ronnie is an all-around running back with a versatile skill set,” Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said in a news release. “He can run the ball, catch it, and does very well in pass protection. He’ll add some good size to our backfield and he’s a good character guy. We think he’ll be a tremendous compliment to LeSean [McCoy] and the other young backs on this team that we really like. You can never have enough good running backs in this league and we are happy to have Ronnie join us.”

But Brown's running numbers have dipped. He ran for 734 yards last season, the lowest total of his career in years when he played 12 or more games (he had lower total yardage twice, but in those seasons he played only nine and seven games). He averaged 3.7 yards-per-carry last year as the Dolphins' full time starter.

Brown tore the ACL on his right knee in 2007 and missed the final seven games of 2009 with a foot injury. He started all 16 games in 2010.

Brown's signing fills one of the few remaining holes on the team. Until now, the backup to McCoy was Dion Lewis, a fifth round pick in April.

Brown was the number two overall pick in the 2005 draft.

UPDATE: Harris has had 34 starts in his four-year career and comes to another position of need for the Eagles. Last year's starter, Winston Justice, is on the Physically Unable to Perform list after knee surgery, leaving King Dunlap as the top choice at that position.

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Birds' Eye View is the Inquirer's blog covering all things Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL.